School News

Mount Notre Dame (MND) is pleased to announce the hiring of Kiersten Johnson as Head Varsity Soccer Coach at the school. Johnson, 22, spent last season as the JV assistant coach at MND where she helped the team compile an 11-4-1 overall record.

Coach Johnson is a graduate of Milford High School where she was co-captain of the varsity soccer team during her senior year and was named First Team ECC All-Conference.

She continued her soccer career at the University of Toledo where she played for four years and was named the team's Offensive MVP her senior season and earned Second Team MAC All-Conference honors. She was named one of the Top 20 Players in the MAC Conference in 2016. Coach Johnson graduated from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Care Administration along with a Minor in Business in 2017.

"Kiersten brings to MND a solid knowledge of the sport and keen insight into high school and collegiate levels of play," said Mark Schenkel, MND athletic director. "I look forward to Coach Johnson bringing her passion and knowledge of the game to the MND soccer program."

Coach Johnson also serves as a coach for Alliance Cincinnati Club Soccer in addition to holding the position of Technical and Tactical Trainer for girls ages 10-17 in that program. She also served as an assistant coach for the TFA Club Soccer Youth Academy in 2015-16.

MND held its 22nd annual Billiart Scholar Recognition Program in honor of the Class of 2022 on January 17, 2018. Named in honor of the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, St. Julie Billiart, the event recognizes incoming freshmen who earn a National Composite Score of 90 or above or achieve a CSQ score of 125 or higher on the High School Placement Test (HSPT).

This year, 156 students were recognized from 48 area grade schools. These students are now eligible to join the Billiart Scholar Honors Program, which inspires students to grow academically by engaging them through real-world experiences and encouraging them to think beyond the classroom. Academically, students are challenged through College Credit Plus, Advanced Placement and Honors classes and an accelerated standardized testing plan. Outside the classroom, students participate in unique experiential learning and service projects.

Principal Karen Day notes, "Every student at Mount Notre Dame brings unique gifts with her.Our Billiart Scholars take their academic gifts and, after partnership with MND, transform those gifts into an empowered skillset that will support them through college and life. It is inspirational to see how these top students shine in all aspects of their high school journey."

MND is pleased to welcome four students from Chile for its inaugural exchange program with Colegio Villa Maria Academy in Santiago, Chile. Students arrived on January 8, 2018 and will attend classes at MND for five weeks as part of the exchange. Four MND students will travel to Santiago, Chile in June where they will stay with the students they are currently hosting and attend classes.

The MND Exchange Program includes an additional Spanish Exchange opportunity with Santa Maria del Pilar Catholic School in Zaragoza, Spain as well as a French Exchange with Institution Sainte-Marie Catholic School in Belfort, France.

"Expanding MND's Exchange Program to a third partnership aligns with our mission to 'learn, live, lead and serve' in our global society," expressed Mrs. Karen Day, MND Principal. "Our students and families who travel and host have a direct glimpse into the world beyond Mount Notre Dame. What is most exciting is that all MND students and staff benefit from the shared experiences of our visiting 'sisters' and from the reflective experiences of our students who travel – bringing a special spirit into our global efforts."

Founded in 1860 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Mount Notre Dame educates and empowers young women to learn, live, lead and serve. With a current enrollment of approximately 675 students, MND continues to carry on a strong tradition of educational excellence, offering 20 Advanced Placement, 25 Honors classes and 5 College Credit Plus courses. To learn more or to schedule a visit, please contact Mrs. Donna Groene, Director of Admissions, at 513.821.3044 x164.

MND has been selected as a 2018 Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative 3D Printers Club. This club is for 5th and 6th grade students who follow a curriculum to 3D print an invention they create! The program will be hosted at MND this Spring as part of our STEM initiative. MND currently owns three 3D printers which are routinely incorporated into MND's strong STEM curriculum.

Congratulations to senior Lauren Taylor and junior Gabbie Marshall for receiving Honorable Mentions in the Scholastics Art and Writing competition. Lauren submitted a beautiful ceramic birdhouse and Gabbie submitted a digital photo. The exhibit runs from January 29th - February 9th at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. The awards ceremony will be held on February 9, 2018 at the School for Creative and Performing Arts.

On November 15th, MND hosted its second annual Scholarship & Awards Recognition Breakfast, celebrating its scholarship and award recipients and their generous benefactors.

The event offers the opportunity for MND benefactors to meet with those students who are directly impacted by their financial support of MND. These benefactors believe so strongly in the mission of MND that they have created a named endowed scholarship where the interest earned on their investment is able to be used to support students. This year, 42% of MND students are receiving some form of financial assistance.

"Mount Notre Dame is blessed to have many benefactors who have established, or give to, a named scholarship," expressed Mrs. Judy Back Gerwe '78, MND President. "These scholarships grow our endowment so that we can help more and more families afford an outstanding Catholic education for their daughter. We are so appreciative of all those who support our mission."

Founded in 1860 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Mount Notre Dame educates and empowers young women to learn, live, lead and serve. With a current enrollment of approximately 675 students, MND continues to carry on a strong tradition of educational excellence, offering 20 Advanced Placement, 25 Honors classes and 5 College Credit Plus courses. To learn more or to schedule a visit, please contact Mrs. Donna Groene, Director of Admissions, at 513.821.3044 x164.

Congratulations to MND's Julia Feldmann '20, who was recently named a 2017 Women of Excellence by the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance. Julia was honored for her "spirit for giving" and she currently serves on the executive committee of the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty's Youth in Philanthropy. Last year, Julia led YIP through their first ever involvement with "Giving Tuesday," which was one of the single most successful fund raising ventures in the history of Youth in Philanthropy. Julia was recognized at the Women of Excellence Awards Dinner & Gala held on November 17th.

Mount Notre Dame's Service + Justice program is excited to partner with its good friends at St. Vincent de Paul to offer our very first Christmas Toy Shop at MND!

Each year, in late October, St. Vincent de Paul begins taking requests from neighbors in need for assistance at the holiday season. Last year, 400 requests were made. This year, the number has grown to 700 families in need of help. MND has decided to help make the holidays a bit brighter for some of these families.

On Sunday, December 3, 2017, parents and children from nearly 70 families in need will visit MND. The kids will be entertained by MND student helpers while the parents shop for toys. Our neighbors in need will be assisted by an MND personal shopper and will pick out two toys for each of their children. They will then take their presents to our gift-wrapping station where they will be wrapped and bagged by MND student and parent helpers. On their way out, our neighbors will meet up with their children and be on their way home full of good cheer and gifts for their kids.

MND students are working on a special school history project that includes conducting research to find all Hamilton County residents who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the Italian campaign of World War II and are buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Anzio, Italy.

Their research has identified 26 Cincinnati natives who are buried at the cemetery. Using public records, interviews, and other methods, students are working to create profile pieces on each of these soldiers to tell their stories so that their sacrifices are not forgotten. MND students will honor these 26 men at the Anzio Cemetery while visiting Italy in February by having a service in their honor and placing flags on their graves. The students hope to take their research and create a small exhibit that honors the stories and sacrifices of these men.

"We would love to engage the community in this project and ask them for any information they may have about any of the soldiers on our list," said Ben Hunt, the MND Social Studies teacher who is spearheading the research. "The project has three different phases to it and we are currently Phase 1. We have a list of all the names posted on our website for folks to review. Hopefully, they can provide some insight and information on someone listed."

Phase one of the project includes students from multiple grade levels and classes working to conduct the research; In phase two, students from the MND Model UN team competing in an international conference at John Cabot University in February will visit the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery to pay tribute and place flags at each of the identified graves and markers. Phase three will be to create a lasting story for each of these servicemen. This could take the form of an exhibit that is online or printed and displayed.

If anyone has any information that may help the students with their efforts for the listed men, or have other information they would like to share, please visit www.mndhs.org/anzio or contact Mr. Ben Hunt at bhunt@mndhs.org.